Are you ready for some football?! Jets fans were certainly ready after a long-anticipated offseason. Aaron Rodgers emerged from the tunnel with an American flag held high in remembrance of the 9/11 tragedy 22 years ago. The future Hall of Famer, set to make his first start in New York, was serenaded with cheers from the crowd. For Jet fans, it was a dream come true. That dream soon became a nightmare when Rodgers left the game on his 4th snap from scrimmage.
With Rodgers out, Gang Green would turn to Zach Wilson. Wilson who struggled last year, was able to get the Jets in field goal range where Greg Zuerlein was able to tie the game at 3 with a 43-yard field goal.
There may have been thunderstorms before the game started, but all Buffalo saw was Breece “Lightening” Hall. Coming off an ACL injury, the second-year running back had two carries for 109 yards!
Josh Allen and the Bills would promptly drive down the field and find pay dirt putting them up 10-3. The Jets would then get the ball back with a chance to tie or cut the deficit to 4 before the half. Wilson tried to force a pass into Randall Cobb but instead, it was right into the bread basket of Buffalo linebacker Matt Milano. The interception set up a Tyler Bass field goal putting Buffalo up 13-3 heading into the break.
When the Jets came out of the tunnel, they already knew Rodgers was done for the game. Gang Green however would make legendary coach Jimmy McGinty from the movie The Replacements proud. They showed “miles and miles of heart.”
Wilson would lead the offense down to the Buffalo 25 on a 13-play drive that led to a Zuerlein field goal to make it a 13-6 game. Jordan Whitehead heard what DJ Reed said a week ago and ran with it. The Jets' defense had to be leaned on with the offense off to a sluggish start and they didn't disappoint. Whitehead picked off Allen in the 3rd and then again in the 4th. The six-year safety finished the night picking off Josh Allen three times.
After the third interception in the 4th quarter, Wilson and the Jets offense were able to drive down the field to the Buffalo three-yard line. He lofted a pass to Garret Wilson and the 2nd year wide out made a spectacular catch to tie the game at 13.
After the Jets defense forced Josh Allen's 4th turnover of the game, another Zuerlein field goal put them up 16-13 with 1:48 left. Bass would bang a 50-yard field goal off the send this game into overtime.
After the Bills won the toss, the Jet defense forced a quick three and out forcing the Bills to punt. Sam Martin booted the ball high into the Jersey night, and waiting for it was undrafted free agent Xavier Gipson. The rookie turned on the “jets” and found pay dirt to walk it off and sending the “Jetlife” crowd home happy. On a night that saw them lose their Hall of Fame QB, they had enough heart to pull off a well-deserved win.
Final Take:
Zach Wilson was not perfect, but he did all Jets fans could ask for and that was to keep them in the game. As of this moment, it is believed that Rodgers tore his AC, an injury that would end the 39-year-old's season. If that is the case, this team needs to realize that no one will feel sorry for them. They have the defense and the right players on offense to still be a playoff team. The future is in their hands, and from what we saw tonight, they have the heart and drive it takes to still be great this season. On to Dallas.
